If you want to see Sydney form an angle different from the norm, why not check it out from the sky? Whether it’s by helicopter or plane, there’s all sorts of interesting ways you can see the sights of Sydney from the air.

You can have a 20 minute helicopter ride over Sydney. A professional pilot takes you up from Sydney airport to a height of 1000 feet where you then soar across the sky over the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, Manly Beach and the amazing Sydney skyline.

The pilot provides a running commentary so you won’t miss anything. You may find it hard to recognise some places from the air as it’s an unusual perspective. The helicopter can only carry a maximum of six people for safety reasons.

If you would rather a different type of aerial experience, then maybe the Seaplane is the ride for you. The 15 minute flight starts and finishes at Rose Bay on Sydney Harbour, a mere 8 kilometres from the centre of the city. Your flight travels along the harbour to Bondi Beach where you can check out the surfers waiting for that next big wave.

There are plenty of photo opportunities on your way back as you fly over the Opera House and Bridge. The pilot will provide a running commentary of the attractions passing beneath you as you soar through the sky.

Once you have landed back at Rose Bay, you can be taken by water taxi to Watson’s Bay for an optional 3 course a la carte delicious seafood lunch at the famous Doyle’s restaurant. After lunch you’re free to do as you please. Perhaps a quiet drink or a stroll along the beach to the lighthouse.

If you have a bit of a daredevil streak, perhaps you would love the 45 min Aerobatic Thrill Flight. You start this exhilarating journey at Bankstown airport where you don a flight suit before boarding the aircraft. You’ll be able to speak to the pilot and hear all communications between the pilot and air traffic control through the intercom.

Once you’re in the sky, you’ll head towards the special training area in St. Mary’s where you’ll climb to 4000 ft. Then the real fun begins. The skilled pilot will put the plane through a series of amazing manoeuvres including barrel rolls, loops, hammerhead turns and wingovers. Then he’ll flip the plane and fly upside down. Hopefully you haven’t just had lunch.

The pilot will keep going into more complex turns and rolls. He will explain each turn as he does it so you’re prepared. Then he’ll try some figure eights and reverse figure eights and you’ll experience gravitational forces anywhere between +6G and -3G so your body will either be straining against the harness or be shoved back hard into the seat. Eventually the hair-raising ride will end back at Bankstown.

There are other helicopter and plane rides on offer as well so explore all your options and choose the one that’s right for you.

To get a birds eye experience, we recommend the tours from Tours To Go

What to do in Sydney - Sydney Harbour Bridge

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Sydney Harbour Bridge is certainly a well-known landmark because it’s the largest steel arch bridge in the world with the peak standing 134 metres above the water. It’s also the widest longspan bridge in the world with eight lanes of traffic, two train lines, a cycle track and a footpath. Next year will mark its 80^th year of existence and it’s affectionately known as the “Coathanger” by the locals.
There are many reasons why the bridge is so appealing to millions of people, not only in Australia, but right around the world. You can participate in the Bridge Climb which was introduced back in 1998. This walk takes you up ladders and stairs and through numerous catwalks before reaching the summit and taking in the breath-taking view of Sydney in all its splendour.

If you’re fit, you can also take the 200 steps up the Pylon Walk, checking out three separate levels of exhibits about the Sydney Harbour Bridge history and construction story, before reaching the 87 metre peak and taking in the amazing 360 degree views.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge carries an amazing amount of traffic on a daily basis. In June 1976, the bridge allowed the one billionth vehicle to cross. It took 33 years for half a billion cars to cross and only 11 years for the next half a billion cars, not surprising as the population has grown exponentially over time and the crowds on the roads become even more congested.

In 1992, the Sydney Harbour Tunnel opened to ease the burden of traffic travelling on the bridge every day and to enable commuters to get to their destinations a lot quicker in some cases. It carries approximately 75000 vehicles every day compared to around 165000 vehicles travelling across the Bridge.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb is on the ‘to do’ list of millions of people from interstate and overseas. Plenty of famous people have completed the walk including: Cathy Freeman, Matt Damon, Kylie Minogue, Sarah Ferguson, Hugo Weaving, Kostya Tsyzu and Prince Frederick and Princess Mary of Denmark. Well-known actor and comedian, Paul Hogan, used to work as a rigger on the bridge before becoming successful.

Just prior to the grand Bridge opening, 96 locomotive trains were set at various points to pressure and weight test the bridge, which naturally passed with flying colours. The NSW Premier officially opened the Bridge, although the ribbon was accidentally cut prematurely by someone else, but this didn’t deter them from commencing the festivities.

Over 500,000 people attended the opening and participated in the celebrations which included: a procession of decorated floats, bands and marching groups, a parade of passenger ships that passed under the Bridge, exhibitions, carnivals and a magical fireworks display. Afterwards, the public were permitted to walk across the bridge for the first time. This has only been allowed once since then and that was to celebrate the 50^th anniversary in 1982.

Whatever your tastes, the Sydney Harbour Bridge can’t fail to impress you with the sheer size, design and astounding history of this fabulous structure which will continue to remain at the top of the “must do” list of every visitor to Australia.

Do the Sydney Harbour Bridge Ride Cycle Tour